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Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Agricultural Extension in Developing Countries

Author

Listed:
  • David Spielman

    (Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Kigali, Rwanda)

  • Els Lecoutere

    (Development Economics Group, Wageningen University, 6700 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Simrin Makhija

    (Environment and Production Technology Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC 20005, USA)

  • Bjorn Van Campenhout

    (Development Strategy and Governance Division, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC 20005, USA)

Abstract

With new possibilities offered by information and communications technology (ICT), an abundance of products, services, and projects has emerged with the promise of revitalizing agricultural extension in developing countries. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that not all ICT-enabled extension approaches are equally effective in improving adoption, productivity, income, or welfare outcomes. In this review, we explore various conceptual and methodological threads in the literature on ICT-enabled extension in developing countries. We examine the role of multiple impact pathways, highlighting how ICTs influence behaviors and preferences,gender and intrahousehold dynamics, spillovers, and public worker incentives. We also explore the opportunities presented by ICT-enabled extension for increasing the methodological rigor with which extension outcomes are identified. These conceptual and methodological insights—coupled with empirical evidence from prior studies—offer direction for several lines of policy-relevant research on ICT-enabled extension.

Suggested Citation

  • David Spielman & Els Lecoutere & Simrin Makhija & Bjorn Van Campenhout, 2021. "Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Agricultural Extension in Developing Countries," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 13(1), pages 177-201, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:anr:reseco:v:13:y:2021:p:177-201
    DOI: 10.1146/annurev-resource-101520-080657
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    Cited by:

    1. Tadjiev, Abdusame & Kurbanov, Zafar & Djanibekov, Nodir & Govind, Ajit & Akramkhanov, Akmal, 2023. "Determinants and impact of farmers' participation in social media groups: Evidence from irrigated areas of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," IAMO Discussion Papers 201, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO).
    2. Mwambi, Mercy & Depenbusch, Lutz & Bonnarith, Uon & Sotelo-Cardona, Paola & Kieu, Khemrin & di Tada, Nicolas & Srinivasan, Ramasamy & Schreinemachers, Pepijn, 2023. "Can phone text messages promote the use of integrated pest management? A study of vegetable farmers in Cambodia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PA).
    3. Bjorn Van Campenhout, 2022. "ICTs to address information inefficiencies in food supply chains," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 53(6), pages 968-975, November.
    4. Yegbemey, Rosaine N. & Bensch, Gunther & Vance, Colin, 2023. "Weather information and agricultural outcomes: Evidence from a pilot field experiment in Benin," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. Campenhout, Bjorn Van, 2021. "ICTs to Address Information Inefficiencies in Food Supply Chains," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315054, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Wanglin Ma & Huanguang Qiu & Dil Bahadur Rahut, 2023. "Rural development in the digital age: Does information and communication technology adoption contribute to credit access and income growth in rural China?," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 1421-1444, August.
    7. Rosalind Ragetlie & Dina Najjar & Dorsaf Oueslati, 2022. "“Dear Brother Farmer”: Gender-Responsive Digital Extension in Tunisia during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-22, March.
    8. Abate, Gashaw T. & Abay, Kibrom A. & Chamberlin, Jordan & Kassim, Yumna & Spielman, David J. & Paul Jr Tabe-Ojong, Martin, 2023. "Digital tools and agricultural market transformation in Africa: Why are they not at scale yet, and what will it take to get there?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    9. Campenhout, Bjorn Van, 2021. "ICTs to Address Information Inefficiencies in Food Supply Chains," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 313801, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    10. Steinke, Jonathan & Ortiz-Crespo, Berta & van Etten, Jacob & Müller, Anna, 2022. "Participatory design of digital innovation in agricultural research-for-development: insights from practice," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ICT; information and communications technology; agricultural extension; gender; social networks; public worker incentives;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services

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